Automatic bridge gate



July 17, 1923. 1,461,901

|.HARMATA AUTOMATIC BRIDGE GATE Filed May 11, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i H I a E (m m '1 H! i M/VE/VTU/i Kim Lay/ A TTOHNEV July 17, 1923. 1,461,901

I 1. HARMATA AUTOMATIC BRIDGE GATE F iled May 11, 1920 2 Shuts-Shoat 2 1 M/VE/VTOH $11 QT! I 2 ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 19.23.

siren s e raiser rune near/rare, or BOYLE, ALBERTA, CANADA.

aurorvrnric BRIDGE earn Application filed May 11, 1920. Serial No. 380,469.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TLKO I-TARMATA, a citizen of Canada, residing at Boyle, Prov ince of Alberta, and Dominion of Canada,

have invented certainnew and useful Im-' provements in Automatic Bridge Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic bridge gates, and has for its main object the provision of a bridge gate which will be opened automatically ,by the weight of a vehicle on the entrance to the bridge. v

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like named parts in the drawings.

Referring briefly to the drawings:

Figure 1, is a side elevational view of a bridge equipped with my gate.

Figure 2, is a front elevational view of the same showing the relation of parts when the gate is Open.

Figure 3, is a similar view showing the relation of parts when the gate is closed.

Figure 4, is a plan view of the latch member 42. 1

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main platform of the bridge, supported upon columns or legs 2. The upper portions of the two central columns 2 are represented by the numeral 3 and it is between these posts 3 that vehicles pass over the bridge. Beams 3 bridge the upper portions of the columns 2 as shown providing frames for the slidable support of a pair of gates 1 and 5. Guide rollers 6 are provided on said frames in order both to guide and to ease the motion of said gates. The inner sides of said gates are indicated respectivelyby 13 and 14, and their midmembers by, respectively, 7 and 8. Upon the member 7 a link 10 is pivotally mounted at 9, and near the lower end of said link 10 another link 29 is pivotally attached, the latter being also pivoted to a leg 2, as shown.

To the lower extremity of the link 10, a link 26 is pivoted. Similarly a link 12 is pivotally attached at 11 to the mid-member 8 of the gate 5, and another link 29 is pivoted near the lower end of the link 12, the link 29 being also pivoted to a leg 2. At

the lower extremity of the link 12 another link 28 is pivoted.

The portion'of the bridge platform frame between the side posts 3 is represented by 18, and within said frame 18 lies a platform 19. A lower panel 18 lies beneath the platform 19 and is rigidly supported by the frame 18.. Upon this panel 18 coiled springs 20 are fixed, and upon said springs the platform 19 rests whereby said platform is maderesilient. A bracket 21 having depending ears 25 is secured to the underside of the panel 18 and pivotally attached to the underside of the platform 19 are a pair of links23 extending in opposite direction in the fashion of the legs of a a, upon the lower ends of the said links 23 are pivotally attached short links 2 1 having relatively longer extensions 26, each complete member 24-26 constituting a small bell crank lever having its central pivot attached to the car 25. The free end of each of the members 26 is pivotally attached to the free ends of the members 27.

In addition to the rollers 6, further guide members are provided at 30, 31, 15 and 16, for the gates 4: and 5.

In operation, assuming that the gates are closed, (Figure 1). The weight of the vehicle will depress said platform against the force of the springs 20 compressing the latter. Thus the links 23 are forced downward, so that the members 26 are spread apart thus pulling the members 27 in opposite directions. It is thus apparent that the gates 41: and 5 will be drawn in opposite di rections and opened, so that the vehicle may pass over the bridge. As soon as the vehicle has left the platform 19, the latter is raised by the springs 20, reversing the above described motion of the various link members, so that the gates 1 and 5 will again be drawn together and closed.

In Figure 1, I have clearly illustrated a precautionary locking means for the gates, so that they may be arranged not to open upon the. arrival of a vehicle when such a step is derived. The same consists of a plate 42 attached to the mid-member of the gate 5, said plate having a circular hole 42 in one end and another 12 in the other end, the distance between said holes being equal. to one half of the distance be tween the posts 3. A pin or rod 411 is slidably attached to the post 3 adjacent the gate 5 and at its upper end, which projects above the frame 3*, said pin-is pivotally attached to the ends of short links 39 and 10. Said links 39 and 40 each comprise the long end of a bell crank lever, the short ends thereof attached to the top of the framesS.

being indicated at 39 and 40 and the cen tral pivots of said bell cranks are pivotally A tension spring 38 joins the free ends of said short members 39 and 4:0 and a protection cover 37 is attached to the top of the arrows (Figure l), the pin ll will be lifted away from the rod 42,-thus disengaging said pin from the hole inth'e member 42 in which it was engaged.

Upon release of said handle 15, the force of the spring '38 willnrge said pin back against the member 42, and, if the gate has meanwhile moved to its other extreme position, said pin will fall into the other hole in the member 42, thereby locking the same in the other position. When this looking means is not desired, the handle 15 may be tied or otherwise secured in a position which will leave the pin 41 away from the member 42. In order to facilitate the operation of the device, I have provided springs 45 as'shown.

I claim A device of the class described comprising a frame, a pair of gates slidably supported in said frame, guide means and rollers on said frame for said gates, an opening in said frame for the passage of vehicles, posts on each side of said opening, a platform supported at the bottom of said opening, a panel under said platform rigid to said frame, a plurality of springs mounted upon said panel, said platform resting upon said springs, means operable by depression of said platform to open said gates, said means also operable by raising of said platform to close said gates, said means comprising links attached to the underside of said platform, bell crankspivota'lly attached to'said links, rods pivotally attached to said cranks, a rod'attached at one end to each of said gates, the other end of each of said rods attached to the free end of each of said first named rods, and additional rods attached at one end to said frame and at the other end to said second named rods.

, In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. 1

ILKO HARMATA. 

